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The new ACGME-Approved Addiction Medicine Fellowship program provides innovative and interdisciplinary substance use clinical training for fellows, including pain management and community collaboration. 

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Fellowship Experience

Our program provides superior training in a collaborative environment. We have specialty clinics across our medical campus, which is anchored by our 1,200 bed inpatient center UAB Hospital—the eighth largest public hospital in the nation. The hospital is in close proximity to the Birmingham VA Medical Center, UAB Hospital Highlands campus, and the Kirklin Clinic.

Patients come from all over the state to take advantage of our life-changing care, offering a breadth of clinical learning opportunities. We approach medicine in a multi-disciplinary modality across a wide variety of conditions through mandatory and elective rotations.

Our program collaborates with the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology to empower innovative research, engage in high-quality patient-centered care, and engage with the community in meaningful and mutually beneficial collaborations. Our faculty and staff have many years of experience treating both the medical and psychological sides of addiction. Our staff combines knowledge and skills from a wide range of areas, including spirituality, social work, communication, sexual abuse, grief, and trauma. This breadth of knowledge creates an educational environment which encourages tailoring treatment plans to meet each patient’s individual needs.


Clinical Training

Inpatient consults take place at UAB Hospital and the Birmingham VA Medical Center. During this rotation, fellows will learn about acute intoxication and withdrawal from various substances, gain experience in starting or resuming medications for opioid use disorder, and use micro-induction techniques for buprenorphine. Fellows will also master inpatient-to-outpatient handoffs and inter-professional communication with acute care teams.

The VA Opioid Reassessment Clinic (ORC), certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, is a pain management program. During rotations, fellows will participate in integrated visits with health psychology, addiction medicine, and adult psychiatry to evaluate long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain while promoting whole health approaches. The clinic collaborates with clinical pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, whole health coaches, and interventional anesthesia and psychiatry colleagues. Fellows can expect extended visit lengths for complex patients.

Beacon Integrated Healthcare, a UAB-affiliated clinic, offers internal medicine, psychiatry, and addiction care to underinsured, uninsured, and justice-involved patients. Fellows will join weekly multi-professional team meetings to align patient goals with care activities. They will learn outpatient withdrawal management, opioid and alcohol use disorder medications (MOUD and MAUD), and contingency management for stimulant use disorders. Additionally, fellows will have the opportunity to perfect motivational interviewing skills through observation and feedback.


Training Conferences

Our current schedule allots a half-day per week to didactics. Topics covered during didactics include but are not limited to: Medical and psychiatric comorbidities, Identification and Treatment of toxidromes and withdrawal syndromes, History of substance use disorder (SUD) and treatment options, including political advances and challenges, Special populations such as pregnant patients, justice-involved patients, adolescents, etc., Emphasis on evidence-base for harm reduction approaches, Acute and chronic pain management in patients with histories of substance misuse, Non-pharmacologic approaches to pain and SUD care, and Preparation for Addiction Medicine boards.


Research Opportunities

There are opportunities to collaborate on a variety of research projects with mentors from many different specialties. Topics span infectious diseases, stimulants, smoking cessation, criminal justice and implementation science. Our current schedule also allots a half-day per week to research and didactics. Topics covered during didactics include medical and psychiatric comorbidities, identification and treatment of toxidromes and withdrawal syndromes, special populations, acute and chronic pain management in patients with histories of substance misuse, non-pharmacologic approaches to pain and SUD care., and preparation for Addiction Medicine boards.

Let's get acquainted

It's not just what you learn. It's also about the people you learn with. Our Addiction Medicine fellowship program leaders are dedicated to developing the potential of every talented trainee.
Meet our people

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What will I need to apply?

    What will I need to apply?

    All Fellowship candidates must participate in the ERAS and NRMP programs. We urge you to go to the ERAS website and submit your application and supporting documentation as soon as possible.

    The following documentation is required of all applicants to be submitted in ERAS in order for their file to be considered complete. Interviews will not be offered until files are complete.

    • Current Photo
    • Current Curriculum Vitae
    • Personal Statement
    • Medical School Transcript
    • USMLE Step 1, Step 2, & Step 3 Score Report
    • Copy of current medical license and DEA
    • ECFMG certificate (for International Graduates only)
    • Copy of Visa (if not a permanent U.S. Citizen)
  • What are the salaries & benefits for fellows?

    What are the salaries & benefits for fellows?

    Our program provides benefits and insurance plans available to all fellows at UAB. You can find the list of salaries and benefits for fellows based on PGY level here.

  • What are the key program dates for Applications?

    What are the key program dates for Applications?

    The Interview Season is from September through October. For the 2024-2025 Match cycle, we will interview on the following dates:

    • Wednesday, September 11 - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    • Wednesday, September 18 - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    • Wednesday, September 25 - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    • Wednesday, October 2 - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Is there a minimum USMLE score required?

    Is there a minimum USMLE score required?

    There is no minimum USMLE score requirement. We take the score into account as part of the overall review of an application.

  • What are your NRMP Numbers?

    What are your NRMP Numbers?

    Our fellowship positions are selected through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The UAB Addiction Medicine NRMP numbers for Match participation are:

    • Addiction Medicine/Sponsored (NRMP #1007404F1)

      • Sponsored by the UAB Dept of Psychiatry for those having completed an ACGME Psychiatry Residency program.
    • Addiction Medicine (NRMP #1007404F0)

      • Funded by the University of Alabama Medical Center for those having completed ACGME training in any of the 24 primary specialties except Psychiatry. We ask that Psychiatry applicants use the NRMP #1007404F1 number.
  • What conditions must I meet to be eligible?

    What conditions must I meet to be eligible?

    Eligibility for the Addiction Medicine Fellowship program requires a fellow to have satisfactorily completed ACGME-accredited training in one of the 24 primary specialty residency programs. Our 12-month program produces clinical experts, faculty, researchers, and change agents. Fellowship graduates are eligible to take the addiction medicine certification exam by the American Board of Preventive Medicine or the American Osteopathic Association.

    Only applicants who meet all of the criteria may be accepted into our accredited training program sponsored by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center.

    • Must be board-certified or board-eligible in one of the above medical specialties.
    • Must be license or will be licensed to practice medicine in the State of Alabama prior to the start date of fellowship training.
    • Must be U.S. Citizens or hold a valid Visa for graduate medical education in the U.S. Candidates must meet with the UAB International Scholar & Student Services to ensure that the applicant holds an appropriate Visa or to assist in the processing of the paperwork required for full compliance with states and federal policies.

 

Want to learn more? Start a conversation with us.

Leah Leisch, MDI'm always ready to discuss our individualized approach to train future clinicians and researchers in the practice of addiction medicine.

Leah Leisch, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Fellowship Director


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WBI'd be delighted to talk with you about the many exciting possibilities that await you at UAB and Birmingham. Contact me for more details about your fellowship.

Brandy Collins-Freiger, C-TAGME, Education Administrator


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